Apparatus for loading perishable bulk commodities within a hopper

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for loading perishable commodities, such as potatoes, in a hopper and having an elongate chute adapted to fit within a hopper, and a valve within the chute mounted for vertical up and down movement. The valve is normally positioned adjacent the upper end of the chute in a closed position and is pushed down by the potatoes when the potatoes are discharged thereby to minimize the fall of the perishable commodities into the bottom of the hopper. The valve is opened automatically by the potatoes when the downward travel of the valve with the potatoes is restrained at the lower end of the chute. A negative pressure is exerted adjacent the upper end of the chute and holds the valve in its upper position for the initial discharge of the potatoes in the hopper. An upward airflow is provided in the chute during the loading of the potatoes in the hopper and is effective to remove foreign matter, such as dirt or dust, entrained with the potatoes, during the entire loading operation.

United States Patent [1l13,594,84'f

[ Inventor Rollins 3,147,846 9/1964 Huntoon 2 I 4/17 cA St. Charles, Mo.

[2] l I A l, No, 863,487 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Shendan [22] Fil d0d. 3, 1969 Attorney-Eugene N. Riddle [45] Patented July 27, I971 [73]Assignee ACF industries, Incorporated New ABSTRACT: Apparatus forloading perishable commodities, such as potatoes, in a hopper and havingan elongate chute adapted to fit within a hopper, and a valve within thechute CMMDmES A T3323; iilit iifili lci icili 3211;113:3 25iil ihlil fni 7 Chums 3 Drama closed position and is pushed down by the potatoeswhen the U-S. B, potatoes are discharged thereby to minimize the of the1 /2 2 /1 21 perishable commodities into the bottom of the hopper. The2/ valve is opened automatically by the potatoes when the [5 l 1 Int. Cl865g 67/06 downward travel of the valve with the potatoes is restrainedat 0f 2 C, the lower end of the chute A negative pressure i exerted ad15/306 R, jacent the upper end of the chute and holds the valve in its306 3 upper position for the initial discharge of the potatoes in thehopper. An upward airflow is provided in the chute during the [54]APPARATUS FOR LOADING PERISHABLE BULK [56] References Cited loading ofthe potatoes in the hopper and is effective to UNITED STATES PATENTSremove foreign matter, such as dirt or dust, entrained with the1,021,757 4/ 191 2 Blaisdell 214/17 C potatoes, during the entireloading operation.

PATENTED JUL27 m SHEET 1 BF 3 mvsw'ron. DALLAS W. ROLLINS ATTORNEYAPPARATUS FOR LOADING PERISI'IABLE BULK I COMMODITIES WITHIN A HOPPERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of loading equipment forrailway hopper cars have been employed heretofore, such as canvas chutesand endless conveyors. When canvas chutes are employed the initial fallof the lading or perishable commodity is oftentimes a considerabledistance. Endless conveyors are difficult to position within the hatchopenings of hoppers and also normally permit the lading, such aspotatoes, to fall or drop from the end of the conveyor. Further, none ofthe present unloading means employed provide any cleaning or removal offoreign matter from the perishable commodities as they are being loadedinto the hoppers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides means forloading perishable bulk commodities, such as potatoes, in a coveredhopper car with a minimum of damage or bruising of the commodity beingloaded. Further, the loading means removes dust, dirt and other foreignmatter from the bulk commodity. The loading structure comprising anelongate chute adapted to fit within the hatch opening of a coveredhopper car for extending vertically downwardly into the hopper, a valvemounted within the chute for vertical movement up and down the chute,means adjacent the upper portion of the chute for exerting a negativepressure and maintaining the valve adjacent the upper portion of thechute until the potatoes are first discharged into the chute, the valveupon the initial discharge of potatoes into the upper portion of thechute being carried downwardly by the weight of the potatoes adjacentthe lower end of the chute and remaining closed until the downwardmovement of the valve is stopped. The potatoes force the valve to anopen position upon the stopping of the valve at its lower .positionthereby permitting the commodity to be discharged into the hopper with arelatively small fall from the chute.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. I is a side elevation of a covered hopper railway car indicatingapparatus for loading a perishable bulk commodity within the hatchopening of a hopper;

FIG. 2 is a section of a hopper indicating the loading ap paratusthereon immediately before the initiation of the loading operation; and,

FIG. 3 is a section view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the loadingapparatus during the loading of the perishable bulk commodity into thehopper.

Referring now to the drawings, a covered hopper railway ear is generallyindicated and includes a plurality of hoppers 12 separated by transversebulkheads 14. Side sheets 16 form the sides of hoppers l2 and a roof 18extends between side sheets 16. A hatch opening 20 for each hopper I2 isprovided in roof 18. Slope sheets 22 extend downwardly to a bottomdischarge opening 24 of hopper l2 and a suitable discharge structuregenerally indicated 26 controls the discharge of lading from opening 24.

Loading apparatus generally indicated 28 comprising an elongate airtightchute 30 having a rotary inlet valve 32 mounted on shaft 34 for rotationand providing an air lock. A motor 36 connected to shaft 34 may beactuated for rotation of valve 32, and suitable vanes form compartmentsfor maintaining a generally airtight seal with the open upper end ofchute 30. A load hopper 37 is positioned above inlet valve 32 to feedpotatoes into valve 32. A vacuum or negative pressure valve generallyindicated 38 is mounted within chute 30 for vertical up and downmovement. Valve 38 comprises an outer support ring 40 and a rubber body42 secured to ring 40 and closing in response to a negative pressureexerted on its upper side. A support stop ring 43 secured to the innersurface of chute 30 adjacent its upper end forms an upper stop for ring40 and valve 38. A support stop ring 44 at the lower end of chute 30forms a lower abutment for ring 40 to stop the downward movement ofvalve 38.

A vacuum pump 48 has a positive pressure line 50 therefrom leading topressure inlet 52 adjacent the lower end of chute 30. Valve 54 is ventedto atmosphere and a line valve 56 is placed in line 50. A vacuum ornegative pressure outlet 58 is provided for chute 30 above stop ring 43and leads to a dirt and dust filter 60 which is connected by line 62 tovacuum pump 48. A valve 64 is placed in outlet line 58 for controllingthe flow of air therein.

In operation, a bulk commodity, such as potatoes, is first fed intoupper hopper 37 with rotary valve 32 closed. Then, valves 54 and 64 areopened with valve 56 remaining closed, and vacuum pump 48 is actuated.The negative pressure exerted through lines 58 and 62 closes the jaws ofrubber valve body 42 of valve 38 and draws valve 38 against stop ring43. Valve 54 is then closed and motor 36 is actuated for rotating valve32. As valve 38 is closely adjacent rotary valve 32 the initial fall ordrop of the potatoes into valve 38 will not result in damage. The weightof the potatoes forces valve 38 downwardly within chute 30 with thespeed of descent of valve 38 being regulated by vacuum pump 48. Also,the negative pressure within chute 30 is controlled by pump 48 and valve64 so that valve 38 will not open until valve 38 reaches its lowerposition with stop ring 44 engaging valve 38.

When valve 38 passes inlet 52 and engages stop ring 44 as shown in FIG.3, valve 56 is opened to equalize substantially the pressure withinchute 30 with air being circulated from air inlet 52, upwardly withinchute 30, into outlet line 58 to filter 60. Thus, an upward airflow isprovided within chute 30. Filter 60 removes any foreign matter entrainedin the air being discharged from outlet line 58. Thus, dirt or dustseparated from the potatoes in chute 30 is removed by filter 60 and theair is recirculated. As the potatoes till the bottom of hopper 12, thelower end of chute 12 is raised to permit loading of the entire hopper12.

What I claim is:

1. A loader particularly for loading bulk commodities into a hopperthrough a hatch opening of a covered hopper railway car comprising, anelongate chute adapted to fit within the hatch opening for extendingvertically downwardly into the hopper, a valve mounted within the chutefor vertical movement up and down the chute, means adjacent the upperportion of the chute for exerting a negative pressure thereon andmaintaining the valve adjacent the upper portion of the chute when thenegative pressure is exerted, and means adjacent the upper portion ofthe chute for the discharge of bulk commodities into the chute, saidvalve upon the initial discharge of perishable commodities into theupper portion of the chute being carried downwardly by the weight of thecommodities to a position adjacent the lower end of the chute therebypermitting the bulk commodities to be discharged into the hopper with arelatively small fall from the chute.

2. In apparatus for loading perishable bulk commodities into a hopperthrough a hatch opening of a covered hopper railway car; an elongatechute adapted to fit within the hatch opening for extending verticallydownwardly into the hopper, a valve mounted within the chute forvertical movement up and down the chute and responsive to a negativepressure for closing, means for exerting a negative pressure adjacentthe upper portion of the chute and maintaining the valve in a closedposition adjacent the upper portion of the chute when the negativepressure is exerted, means adjacent the upper portion of the chute forthe discharge of commodities into the chute, said valve upon the initialdischarge of perishable commodities into the upper portion of the chutebeing carried downwardly by the weight of the commodities to a positionadjacent the lower end of the chute, and stop means to stop the downwardtravel of the valve within the chute with the bulk commoditiesautomatically opening the valve upon stopping of the valve therebypermitting the bulk commodities to be discharged into the hopper with arelatively small fall from the chute.

3. A loader particularly for loading perishable bulk commodities into ahopper through an upper opening in the hopper, an elongate chute adaptedto fit within the upper opening for extending vertically downwardly intothe hopper, a valve mounted within the chute for vertical movement upand down the chute between upper and lower positions, means formaintaining the valve in a closed upper position adjacent the upperportion of the chute means adjacent the upper portion of the chute forthe discharge of commodities into the chute with the valve in its upperposition, said valve upon the initial discharge of perishablecommodities into the upper portion of the chute moving downwardly to aposition adjacent the lower end of the chute, and stop means to stop thedownward travel of the valve within the chute, said valve opening uponstopping of the valve at its lower position thereby permitting thecommodities to be discharged into the hopper with a relatively smallfall from the chute.

4. Apparatus for loading bulk commodities into a hopper through an,upper opening in the hopper, an elongate chute adapted to fit withinthe upper opening for extending vertically downwardly into the hopper, avalve mounted within the chute for vertical movement up and down thechute between upper and lower positions, means for maintaining the valvein a closed position adjacent of the chute for the discharge of bulkcommodities into the chute with the valve in its upper positions, saidvalve upon the initial discharge of perishable commodities into theupper portion of the chute moving downwardly adjacent the lower end ofthe chute, stop means to stop the downward travel of the valve withinthe chute, said valve opening upon stopping of the valve at its lowerposition thereby permitting the bulk commodities to be discharged intothe hopper with a relatively small fall from the chute, and meansproviding an upward flow of air within the chute with the air beingremoved from the chute adjacent its upper end thereby to remove anyforeign matter separated from the bulk commodities.

5. Apparatus for loading bulk commodities into a hopper as specified inclaim 4 wherein an air inlet is provided adjacent the lower end of thechute for providing the upward airflow within the chute.

6. Apparatus for loading bulk commodities into a hopper as specified inclaim 5 wherein a fluid conduit connects the air outlet adjacent theupper end of the chute with the air inlet adjacent the lower end of thechute for providing a continuous recirculation of air, and filter meansare provided in said fluid conduit for the removal of foreign matter.

7. Apparatus for loading bulk commodities into a hopper as specified inclaim 4 wherein said means adjacent the upper portion of the chute forthe discharge of bulk commodities into the chute comprises an air lockto maintain a generally airtight seal at the upper end of the chute.

1. A loader particularly for loading bulk commodities into a hopperthrough a hatch opening of a covered hopper railway car comprising, anelongate chute adapted to fit within the hatch opening for extendingvertically downwardly into the hopper, a valve mounted within the chutefor vertical movement up and down the chute, means Adjacent the upperportion of the chute for exerting a negative pressure thereon andmaintaining the valve adjacent the upper portion of the chute when thenegative pressure is exerted, and means adjacent the upper portion ofthe chute for the discharge of bulk commodities into the chute, saidvalve upon the initial discharge of perishable commodities into theupper portion of the chute being carried downwardly by the weight of thecommodities to a position adjacent the lower end of the chute therebypermitting the bulk commodities to be discharged into the hopper with arelatively small fall from the chute.
 2. In apparatus for loadingperishable bulk commodities into a hopper through a hatch opening of acovered hopper railway car; an elongate chute adapted to fit within thehatch opening for extending vertically downwardly into the hopper, avalve mounted within the chute for vertical movement up and down thechute and responsive to a negative pressure for closing, means forexerting a negative pressure adjacent the upper portion of the chute andmaintaining the valve in a closed position adjacent the upper portion ofthe chute when the negative pressure is exerted, means adjacent theupper portion of the chute for the discharge of commodities into thechute, said valve upon the initial discharge of perishable commoditiesinto the upper portion of the chute being carried downwardly by theweight of the commodities to a position adjacent the lower end of thechute, and stop means to stop the downward travel of the valve withinthe chute with the bulk commodities automatically opening the valve uponstopping of the valve thereby permitting the bulk commodities to bedischarged into the hopper with a relatively small fall from the chute.3. A loader particularly for loading perishable bulk commodities into ahopper through an upper opening in the hopper, an elongate chute adaptedto fit within the upper opening for extending vertically downwardly intothe hopper, a valve mounted within the chute for vertical movement upand down the chute between upper and lower positions, means formaintaining the valve in a closed upper position adjacent the upperportion of the chute means adjacent the upper portion of the chute forthe discharge of commodities into the chute with the valve in its upperposition, said valve upon the initial discharge of perishablecommodities into the upper portion of the chute moving downwardly to aposition adjacent the lower end of the chute, and stop means to stop thedownward travel of the valve within the chute, said valve opening uponstopping of the valve at its lower position thereby permitting thecommodities to be discharged into the hopper with a relatively smallfall from the chute.
 4. Apparatus for loading bulk commodities into ahopper through an upper opening in the hopper, an elongate chute adaptedto fit within the upper opening for extending vertically downwardly intothe hopper, a valve mounted within the chute for vertical movement upand down the chute between upper and lower positions, means formaintaining the valve in a closed position adjacent of the chute for thedischarge of bulk commodities into the chute with the valve in its upperpositions, said valve upon the initial discharge of perishablecommodities into the upper portion of the chute moving downwardlyadjacent the lower end of the chute, stop means to stop the downwardtravel of the valve within the chute, said valve opening upon stoppingof the valve at its lower position thereby permitting the bulkcommodities to be discharged into the hopper with a relatively smallfall from the chute, and means providing an upward flow of air withinthe chute with the air being removed from the chute adjacent its upperend thereby to remove any foreign matter separated from the bulkcommodities.
 5. Apparatus for loading bulk commodities into a hopper asspecified in claim 4 wherein an air inlet is provided adjacent the lowerend of the chute for providing the upward airflow withiN the chute. 6.Apparatus for loading bulk commodities into a hopper as specified inclaim 5 wherein a fluid conduit connects the air outlet adjacent theupper end of the chute with the air inlet adjacent the lower end of thechute for providing a continuous recirculation of air, and filter meansare provided in said fluid conduit for the removal of foreign matter. 7.Apparatus for loading bulk commodities into a hopper as specified inclaim 4 wherein said means adjacent the upper portion of the chute forthe discharge of bulk commodities into the chute comprises an air lockto maintain a generally airtight seal at the upper end of the chute.